MCCs 10Year Accreditation Self Study: An Overview

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MCCs 10-Year Accreditation Self Study An
Overview

• Red Mountain Employee Councils Campus-Wide Event
• March 2, 2005

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What is Accreditation?

• Accreditation is a voluntary peer review
  process.
• Each MCCD college is accredited individually.
• MCC was first accredited in 1967. Following an
  initial accreditation, colleges are evaluated
  every ten years.
• MCC is accredited by the Higher Learning
  Commission (HLC) of the North Central
  Association.

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Accreditation Process

• Accreditation involves conducting a self study
  that focuses on the unique mission of the
  institution.
• Purpose is to identify strengths and challenges
  in order to better prepare for the future.
• Data is presented as evidence for satisfying five
  criteria set forth by the HLC.
• Accrediting agencies are shifting their criteria
  from inputs to outputs.

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The New Accreditation Criteria

• Mission and Integrity
• Preparing for the Future
• Student Learning and Effective Teaching
• Acquisition, Discovery, and Application of
  Knowledge
• Engagement and Service

Each criteria also has a number of core
components on which the college is evaluated.
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The Significance of Accreditation

• Enables the college and students to receive state
  and federal financial aid.
• Allows students to transfer credits to other
  accredited colleges and universities.
• Allows the college to recruit and retain highly
  qualified faculty and staff.
• Assures the quality and integrity of programs and
  degrees.

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Goals of the Self Study

• Achieve 10-year accreditation from HLC.
• Confirm our mission and strategic plans.
• Document strengths and challenges.
• Develop a sense of community among all
  constituencies.
• Position the college for the future.

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Self-Study Committees
The self-study committee was comprised of more
than 80 committee members representing all
employee groups, students and the community.

• Steering Committee
• Five Criterion Committees
• Distance Learning Degree
• Operational Indicators
• Communications and Arrangements

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Self-Study Timeline

• Spring/Summer 2003 Defined and Interpreted
  Criteria
• Fall 2003 Collected Examples of Evidence
• Spring 2004 Analyzed and Interpreted Data
• Winter, 2005 Submitted Self-Study Report
• Spring, 2005 Host HLC Visiting Team

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Examples of Evidence that MCC Meets the Criteria

• Requests for evidence stemmed from committees.
• Data collection methods included
• Surveys Interviews
• Discussion Groups
• Strategic Conversations
• College Documents and Reports
• Committees interpreted findings in relation to
  criteria and college mission.

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The Self-Study Report

• The process and findings were summarized in a
  formal report submitted to HLC.
• Serves as a guide for the college as we prepare
  for the future.
• Provides background information for the visiting
  team of consultant-evaluators.

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Overview of Strengths

• Sound financial planning, financial stability,
  and passage of the bond
• Recognized assessment program which documents
  student learning
• Innovative faculty and staff and a college spirit
  of innovation
• Growing emphasis on scholarship and research
• Complete collegiate experience for students
• Community is engaged and supportive of the
  college
• Long-standing and mutually beneficial
  partnerships

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Overview of Challenges

• Rapid growth strains college systems, people and
  resources
• Need more systematic evaluation processes outside
  instructional area
• Innovation is sometimes in tension with large
  bureaucracy
• Need policies and processes that address
  increasing participation in research and
  scholarship
• Maintaining balance between residential and
  adjunct faculty ratio
• Providing a fair and equal voice for all college
  constituencies
• Anticipate, consider and meet the wide range of
  expectations from diverse constituencies

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The On-Site Visit

• March 7-9, 2005
• Opportunity for HLC team to interact with members
  of the college community.
• Examine supporting materials and confirm reports
  content.
• Prepare a team report that includes
  recommendations for MCCs continued accreditation
  and advice about college challenges.

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Questions or Comments?
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Visit our Website
(http//www.mc.maricopa.edu/selfstudy/)